Feb 28, 2001
CURAÇAO EXPANDS WIND FARM CAPACITY TO 12 MW

As a result of environmentally-friendly energy policies on the island of Curaçao, wind energy contribution has increased considerably, the latest expansion being a 9 MW wind farm, which brings the total installed capacity to 12 MW.

In November 2000, the new 9 MW wind farm located near the village of Playa Kanoa at the Northeast side of the island was commissioned. Together with the existing wind farm at Tera Cora the island has now a total of installed wind-generating capacity of 12 MW. On an average basis the island utilities expect to cover 7 percent of islands electricity demand with wind energy. With a maximum load penetration rate of up to 20 % when demand is low. At an annual average wind speed of 8,6 m/s the wind farm produces 36 million kWh.

The new wind farm consists of 18 NedWind turbines type NW 46/3/500. The NW 46/3/500 stands for a 3 bladed turbine, with a rotor diameter of 46 meters and a generating capacity of 500 kW.

In July, 1997 a Memorandum Of Understanding was signed between KODELA the utility company (now known as Aqualectra Distribution), NedWind Caribbean N.V. the project developer and supplier of the turbines and N.V. DELTA Nutsbedrijven, owner and investor of the wind farm.

Two years later August 1999 the construction work began at the selected site and in November 2000 the first turbines were commissioned.

The utility company of the island purchases the electricity produced with the wind farm from owner according to a power purchase contract. To guarantee output of the wind farm a maintenance and service Agreement for a period of 15 years was signed whereby availability as well as production is guaranteed.

Wind energy project sites are selected taking into consideration, the wind power density [W/m2], the average wind speed [m/s] and the land availability. Playa Kanoa, a flat and windy terrain with little vegetation, consisting of low thorny shrubs and cactus, was selected for the building of the new wind farm.

The 18 turbines are placed in a row, contouring the landscape. They cover a length of approximately 3.5 kilometers. The distance between the turbines is 4 times the rotor diameter, which equals 184 meters.

Each turbine is placed on a 1,000-m3 foundation, with total mass of 76,700 kg. The rotor weighs 14,500-kg, the nacelle 26,000-kg and the tower 35,200-kg. Each foundation is wire fenced in order to avoid easy access to the tower and thus prevent vandalism.

Each wind turbine has it's own step-up transformer (690 V/12 kV), also located on the tower foundation. The wind generators have a nominal generating voltage of 690 V at a frequency of 50 Hz. Each generator is connected to an internal 12 kV grid. The generators produce 690 V, which is transformed up to a 12 kV for internal transport between generator to export point. At export point the 12 kV is again transformed up to 30 kV voltage in order to be transported via a 30 kV-cable over a 7 kilometers distance from the wind farm into a Kodela substation at the village called Brievengat. The step-up 12kV/30kV transformer is located in the middle of the farm, between turbines number nine and ten.

In the substation at Brievengat the energy generated with the wind farm is pumped into islands grid.

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